Synthesis of calculational methods for the design and analysis of radiation shields for nuclear rocket systems. Volume 7 - NAGS, a Fortran 4 data processing program for calculation of neutron and gamma ray sources and neutron and gamma ray heating in two dimensional geometries Final progress report

Neutron flux and gamma ray source edit computer program for design and analysis of radiation shields in nuclear rocket system

Nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation. Volume 2 - Compilation of neutron and photon cross section data Final progress report

Compilation of neutron and photon cross section data using computer programs developed for nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation - Vol.

Synthesis of calculational methods for the design and analysis of radiation shields for nuclear rocket systems. Volume 2 - Analysis of radiation measurements in a nuclear rocket propellant tank mockup using simulated liquid hydrogen

Calculational methods for nuclear rocket radiation shield design - analysis of radiation measurements in nuclear rocket propellant tank mockup using simulated liquid hydroge

Nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation. Volume 5 - Two-dimensional, discrete ordinates transport technique Final progress report

Two dimensional, discrete ordinates transport technique for use with nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and data input preparation - Vol.

Self-Sustaining Oscillations in Complex Networks of Excitable Elements

Random networks of symmetrically coupled, excitable elements can self-organize into coherently oscillating states if the networks contain loops (indeed loops are abundant in random networks) and if the initial conditions are sufficiently random. In the oscillating state, signals propagate in a single direction and one or a few network loops are selected as driving loops in which the excitation circulates periodically. We analyze the mechanism, describe the oscillating states, identify the pacemaker loops and explain key features of their distribution. This mechanism may play a role in epileptic seizures.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures included, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation. Volume 1 - Synopsis of methods and results of analysis Final progress report

Analysis of data systems and computer programs for nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and data input preparation - Vol.

Nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation. Volume 3 - Cross section generation and data processing techniques Final progress report

Cross section generation and data processing techniques for nuclear rocket shielding methods, modification, updating, and input data preparation - Vol.

Adaptive application deployment of priority services in virtual environments

This paper introduces an adaptive application deployment service for virtualized environments (named DECIDE). This service facilitates the definition of customized cluster/cloud environment and the adaptive integration of scheduling policies for testing and deploying containerized applications. The service-based design of DECIDE and the use of a virtualized environment makes it possible to easily change the cluster/cloud configuration and its scheduling policy. It provides a differentiated service for application deployment based on priorities, according to user requirements. A prototype of this service was implemented using Apache MESOS and Docker. As a proof of concept, a federated application for electronic identification (eIDAS) was deployed using the DECIDE approach, which allows users to evaluate different deployment scenarios and scheduling policies providing useful information for decision making. Experiments were carried out to validate service functionality and the feasibility for testing and deploying applications that require different scheduling policies.This work was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under the grant TIN2016-79637-P “Towards Unification of HPC and Big Data Paradigms”

The effect of biliary decompression on bacterial translocation in jaundiced rats

Patients with obstructive jaundice are prone to septic complications after biliary tract operations. Restoring bile flow to the intestine may help to decrease the complication rate. The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of biliary decompression on bacterial translocation in jaundiced rats. Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to six groups subjected to common bile duct ligation (CBDL) and transection (groups 2-6) or sham operation (group 1). In groups 1 and 2 the incidence of enteric bacterial translocation was determined 2 weeks after sham operation or CBDL. In groups 3-6, biliary decompression was achieved by performing a choledochoduodenostomy after 2 weeks of biliary decompression. Bacterial translocation was then studied 1, 2, 3 and 5 weeks following biliary decompression. The rate of bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes in obstructive jaundice was significantly higher as compared with controls and decreased with time to nil three weeks following biliary decompression. The incidence of bacterial translocation was closely correlated (r = 0.844; p = 0.034) with serum alkaline phosphatase activity and seemed to fit with the morphological changes noted in the small intestine. The decrease in bacterial translocation, however, lags behind the recovery of liver function as measured by routine liver function tests and antipyrine clearance. Obstructive jaundice thus promotes bacterial translocation in the rat. Biliary decompression gradually decreases the rate of bacterial translocation

Building cloud applications for challenged networks

Cloud computing has seen vast advancements and uptake in many parts of the world. However, many of the design patterns and deployment models are not very suitable for locations with challenged networks such as countries with no nearby datacenters. This paper describes the problem and discusses the options available for such locations, focusing specifically on community clouds as a short-term solution. The paper highlights the impact of recent trends in the development of cloud applications and how changing these could better help deployment in challenged networks. The paper also outlines the consequent challenges in bridging different cloud deployments, also known as cross-cloud computing